the free market

Nicole Alpert (The Standard, January 25, 2010) Increased consumption of these illegal tobacco products boosts profits for the black market, which are criminal enterprises Smokers may evade the indoor smoking ban by sneaking puffs, but evading the tobacco tax is more dangerous. The 50 percent tax hike last February increased the cost of a pack of cigarettesContinue reading>

Nicole Idanna Alpert (The Standard, 22 April 2008) Inundated with stories of food shortages around the world, it is no wonder Hong Kong is worried about supply and costs. We were also greeted this month with findings on price differences between various grocers in Hong Kong, notably that supermarkets chargeContinue reading>

A veteran delegate to the National People’s Congress has hit back at a recent editorial by Nobel Prize-winner Milton Friedman, calling the American economist’s opinions on Hong Kong’s laissez-faire policy unwelcome and misguided. Jonathan Cheng – Wednesday, October 11, 2006 A veteran delegate to the National People’s Congress has hitContinue reading>

Jonathan Cheng – Friday, September 15, 2006 The apparent abandonment of Hong Kong’s laissez-faire ideology is quickly growing into a crisis of confidence, with one prominent party leader demanding the chief executive fully explain what he meant when he said that “positive nonintervention” was dead – and had been forContinue reading>

Leslie Kwoh – Friday, December 16, 2005 As the South Korean farmers launched their third day of protectionist protests, a more subdued group of free marketeers demonstrated on the other side of the harbor. Ten members of the Freedom to Trade Coalition – comprising about six organizations representing Ghana, India,Continue reading>

Andrew Work (October 21, 2005) The recent turmoil at Wai Hong Cleaning and Pest Control is not a government-outsourcing problem. Nor is it an example of exploitation or of outsourcing resulting in underpaid workers. The problem is exploitation by Hong Kong unions that seek to recreate the livelihood-and-economy-destroying laws thatContinue reading>

Saturday 12th August, 2006Unions out to enrich themselves The recent turmoil at Wai Hong Cleaning and Pest Control is not a government-outsourcing problem. Nor is it an example of exploitation or of outsourcing resulting in underpaid workers. The problem is exploitation by Hong Kong unions that seek to recreate theContinue reading>

Jonathan Cheng on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 For the thousands of demonstrators descending on Hong Kong to protest this week’s gathering of world trade ministers, free trade boosters have a ready reply: look around you, see how free trade has transformed this city. As the conference opens Tuesday, bringing theContinue reading>